Rolls-Royce – AutoGuide.com Newshttp://www.autoguide.com
Thu, 17 Aug 2017 19:36:45 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.6.1AutoGuide.com NewsRolls-Royce – AutoGuide.com Newshttp://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/wp-content/themes/autoguide-proper/img/logo_autoguide_red.gifhttp://www.autoguide.com
This 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom is Purple on Purple Perfectionhttp://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2017/08/this-2018-rolls-royce-phantom-is-purple-on-purple-perfection.html
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2017/08/this-2018-rolls-royce-phantom-is-purple-on-purple-perfection.html#commentsFri, 11 Aug 2017 20:57:46 +0000http://www.autoguide.com/?p=530526This 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom is Purple on Purple PerfectionThe first 2018 Phantom to be displayed at a dealership. more]]> [See image gallery at www.autoguide.com]
The 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom may have only made its debut a couple of weeks ago, but one example of the so-called “world’s greatest luxury item,” has already made its way to a London dealership.

The purple-on-purple Phantom is actually the car Rolls-Royce used to debut the all-new, eighth-generation Phantom during a special event at Bonhams’ headquarters in London last month. It made its way from Bonhams to the nearby H.R. Owen Rolls-Royce Mayfair showroom this week, where it caused quite a stir in the nation’s capital.

The arrival of the 2018 Phantom at the dealership marked the first time the new luxury sedan has appeared in a showroom. While it may look similar to the outgoing model, it’s actually all-new, boasting a lighter platform and a new 6.75-liter, 563 horsepower twin-turbocharged V12.

“It’s a true honour to be the first showroom in the world to welcome the new Phantom, which was given the red-carpet treatment it duly deserved during its time with us,” said H.R. Owen’s Rolls-Royce brand director, Claus Andersen. “Phantom is the very pinnacle of luxury and being able to show off its wonderful bespoke features was fantastic. We’re incredibly excited for next year’s launch and to have the car back in.”

Pricing for the 2018 Phantom has yet to be announced, but let’s be real, those who can afford it don’t care what it costs. It will go on sale officially sometime early next year, but for now, you can drink in its opulence with the photo gallery above.

The British automaker’s CEO, Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes, has confirmed the brand’s first SUV will be unveiled next year ahead of deliveries starting early 2019. The SUV, currently being called Project Cullinan, will ride on the same platform as the new Phantom that was unveiled last week, which is a platform exclusive to the Rolls-Royce brand. In other words, it won’t be shared with BMW and that’s a point the company’s CEO wanted to emphasize.

“We are not using mass-manufactured body shells,” he said. “That limits what you can do on the design side, and it undermines exclusivity massively. You don’t want a camouflaged [Audi] Q7 in that segment. You want to have a true Rolls-Royce.”

He is, of course, referring to the Bentley Bentayga which shares its underpinnings with the Audi Q7 since both brands fall under the Volkswagen Group.

There’s a bit of irony in his statement however, since the Rolls-Royce Ghost, Wraith, and Dawn share their underpinnings with the BMW 7 Series. But maybe that’s all about to change with the introduction of the new Phantom’s platform, which will likely end up underpinning the rest of Rolls-Royce’s lineup in the future.

]]>http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2017/08/rolls-royce-ceo-makes-fun-of-the-bentley-bentayga.html/feed0more]]>You Can Now Configure Your Own 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantomhttp://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2017/08/you-can-now-configure-your-very-own-2018-rolls-royce-phantom.html
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2017/08/you-can-now-configure-your-very-own-2018-rolls-royce-phantom.html#respondThu, 03 Aug 2017 18:44:15 +0000http://www.autoguide.com/?p=527380You Can Now Configure Your Own 2018 Rolls-Royce PhantomHey, we can dream, right? more]]> [See image gallery at www.autoguide.com]
You may not be able to afford the all-new 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom, but the British brand is making it easy for you to dream big with its new configurator for the sedan.

One of our favorite parts of online car shopping is fiddling with the various configurators and the 2018 Phantom’s is no exception – even if we’re just window shopping. The build-your-own Phantom feature on the brand’s site allows you to pick from a variety of exterior and interior color combinations for the car along with wheel options, interior veneer and different ‘Spirit of Ecstacy’ hood ornaments. You can even pick the colors of the famous Rolls-Royce umbrella housed within the door.

The new Phantom may appear similar to the previous model, but the changes are actually quite significant. It rides on a new lightweight aluminum platform from the automaker and is powered by a new twin-turbocharged 6.75-liter V12 engine making 563 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque. Most importantly, it lays claim to being the “most silent car in the world,” with more than 287 lbs of sound deadening material on board and special tires that virtually eliminate road noise.

You can build your own 2018 Rolls-Royce phantom using the configurator at this link.

The all-new 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom has just been unveiled, and although it might not look too different, the changes are sweeping.

As what is widely accepted as the most luxurious car in the world, the eighth-generation Rolls-Royce Phantom raises the benchmark for opulence. The flagship helps Rolls-Royce debut a new lighter yet more rigid all-aluminum spaceframe platform that will underpin future models such as the upcoming SUV and subsequent versions of the Dawn, Wraith, and Ghost.

Of course, the Phantom continues to be propelled by a smooth V12, which the British automaker says is completely new. Ditching natural aspiration, this new 6.75-liter motor is twin turbocharged to output 664 pound-feet of torque at a low 1,700 rpm and 563 horsepower. An eight-speed satellite-aided transmission gets all that power to the road.

Other upgrades over the old model include a new double-wishbone front axle and five-link rear axle, four-wheel steering, and the latest iteration of the self-levelling air suspension, among others.

RR also claims this is the “most silent motor car in the world,” with more than 287 pounds (130 kg) of sound deadening and special tires that essentially wipe out tire noise.

Sensors on the door and automatically soft-closing doors facilitate entry, and, as always, the interior is as opulent as ever. Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but we can assure you people are already sending their chauffeurs to local Rolls-Royce dealers.

The Rolls-Royce SUV has been spied testing on the Nurburgring, an entirely unlikely place for a super luxurious whale of a vehicle.

The unnamed SUV (codenamed Project Cullinan) will undoubtedly be huge and heavy despite a new aluminum architecture, but should still be able to tackle a corner with some amount of grace. These spy photos show the Cullinan hustling through some corners and thanks to a new air suspension, there isn’t an embarrassing amount of body roll for an SUV.

The opulent SUV is expected to be powered by a V12, have standard all-wheel drive, and use the British automaker’s signature rear-hinged coach doors with the umbrella hidden inside the door. The camouflage isn’t hiding too much of the SUV’s boxy design, but we can’t wait to see how everything comes together and how the vehicle will compare to the Bentley Bentayga.

Rolls-Royce calls this a “High-Sided Vehicle,” but to our eyes, that’s most definitely an SUV. The Cullinan is expected to debut in 2018.

]]>http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2017/07/rolls-royce-suv-spied-testing-in-an-unlikely-place.html/feed0more]]>Rolls-Royce Gives us a Glimpse of the New Phantomhttp://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2017/07/rolls-royce-gives-us-glimpse-new-phantom.html
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2017/07/rolls-royce-gives-us-glimpse-new-phantom.html#respondWed, 19 Jul 2017 13:09:05 +0000http://www.autoguide.com/?p=518594Rolls-Royce Gives us a Glimpse of the New PhantomThe 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom will debut on July 27th. more]]>Rolls-Royce has teased the all-new 2018 Phantom ahead of the luxurious four-door’s debut on July 27th.

While this teaser is a bit underwhelming in light of yesterday’s leaked images of the new Phantom, it still gives us a detailed look at the vehicle’s new headlamps and the iconic ‘Spirit of Ecstacy’ hood ornament. It appears the Phantom teased is also painted in an interesting shade of purple – a potential sign that the debut car will also be finished in this color.

The new Phantom is expected to introduce an all-new, lightweight aluminum platform for Rolls-Royce that will also underpin the upcoming Cullinan SUV. This should ensure the new Phantom is both more efficient and more agile than the outgoing model, which was discontinued in 2016. Rolls-Royce’s sedans are typically rear-wheel drive, but it doesn’t seem out of the question that all-wheel drive will be offered on the Phantom this time around.

Yesterday’s leaked images also revealed portions of the Phantom’s interior. Anyone familiar with the old Phantom’s cabin will notice that not much has changed, with a wood-adorned dash, three-spoke steering wheel, analog-style instruments and a high-end looking analog clock all present. Unlike the recently launched Audi A8 and other new luxury sedans, the Phantom probably won’t be offered with self-driving technology. There’s one very good and fairly obvious reason for this: Phantom owners have hired drivers.

The 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom will make its debut alongside seven notable Phantoms from Rolls-Royce’s past, including John Lennon’s famous psychedelic Phantom and Queen Elizabeth’s Phantom State Limousine, among others. The exhibition will be held at Bonhams’ headquarters in Mayfair, London and will be open to the public from July 29th through to August 2nd.

The eighth-generation Phantom is rumored to go on sale sometime in 2018 and prototypes for the large luxury sedan having been spied on a number of occasions over the past year. These leaked images seem like the real deal, with the Phantom seen here appearing identical to prototypes that have been caught by photographers. The vehicle also appears to be the larger extended wheelbase version and is wearing a unique blue and white paint scheme.

This new Phantom looks similar to the outgoing model, save for a slightly reworked front end with a different grille, LED headlamps and a reworked lower intake section that reminds us of the Rolls-Royce Sweptail. The interior is also similar to the existing Phantom with a high, flat dash, wood trim, circular chrome HVAC vents, a three-spoke steering wheel, analog-style gauges and Rolls-Royce’s iconic dash clock.

It’s rumored this new Phantom will share a lighter aluminum platform with the Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV, which is expected to debut early next year. It’s possible the automaker’s 6.8-liter V12 returns in the new Phantom, but it seems more likely the 6.6-liter twin-turbocharged twelve-cylinder found in the Ghost and the Wraith will be employed. All-wheel drive seems as though it could be a possibility, but Rolls-Royce has historically stuck to a RWD layout.

The next-generation Rolls-Royce Phantom will make its debut on July 27th, at which point we’ll have all the info on the new luxury sedan.

The limited edition Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge made a unique and unexpected appearance over the weekend.

Presented at the Chichester Police Station Open Day, the specially-prepared Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge featured authentic lights and Sussex Police decals. The car was created to support Sussex Police and features an Andalusian White exterior. Inside the cabin, there’s black and tan leather. Rolls-Royce said the police car drew huge crowds, including new Chichester MP, Gillian Keegan. The British automaker also collected donations for Chestnut Tree House, the children’s hospice for Sussex.

But before anyone gets the idea that the Sussex Police is getting a Ghost in its fleet, Rolls-Royce was quick to return the car back to normal, removing the decals, essentially dispelling rumors that it would be the first Rolls-Royce allocated to the Chief Constable. Clearly, the Sussex Police isn’t taking a page out of the Abu Dhabi Police’s playbook.

“We were delighted to support Sussex Police at the Open Day. As a proud member of the local community, Rolls-Royce recognises the importance of the emergency services, including the Police,” said Andrew Ball, global corporate communications manager for Rolls-Royce. “We were particularly pleased to see a number of our employees visiting the event with their families, and sharing their pride in the motor car they built.”

]]>http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2017/07/this-is-the-most-luxurious-police-car-ever.html/feed0more]]>Rolls-Royce’s First Ever SUV Will Arrive Early Next Yearhttp://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2017/07/rolls-royces-first-ever-suv-will-arrive-early-next-year.html
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2017/07/rolls-royces-first-ever-suv-will-arrive-early-next-year.html#respondMon, 17 Jul 2017 17:00:34 +0000http://www.autoguide.com/?p=516894Rolls-Royce’s First Ever SUV Will Arrive Early Next YearJust don't call it an SUV. more]]> [See image gallery at www.autoguide.com]
It’s no secret that Rolls-Royce has an SUV on the way, but according to a new report, the vehicle could be set to make its debut by the beginning of next year.

The vehicle, which is being referred to internally as ‘Project Cullinan’, will introduce an all-new aluminum architecture that will eventually find its way to the rest of the Rolls-Royce portfolio. It will be the automaker’s first-ever SUV, but you better not call it that. The British brand has been sure to avoid using that abbreviation when referring to the Cullinan, electing to instead call it an “all-terrain, high-sided vehicle.”

Under the hood of the Rolls-Royce Definitely Not an SUV could be the 454 horsepower 6.8-liter V12 that was found in the Phantom. It’s also possible that Rolls-Royce will employ its twin-turbocharged 6.6-liter V12 in the application, seeing as it’s more powerful at 562 horsepower and also a newer, more refined offering. We imagine Rolls-Royce’s ZF eight-speed automatic transmission will be used and all-wheel drive will be standard.

A Cullinan prototype was recently spotted parked outside a crash test center in the UK, meaning the SUV is likely far along in its development cycle. Spy shots reveal a boxy, squarish design akin to the Phantom and a tall greenhouse section that looks as though it will provide plenty of headroom. Seeing as the Phantom sold for over $400,000, we’re expecting the even large Cullinan to carry a similarly steep sticker price.

Look for the production-ready Rolls-Royce SUV to arrive sometime in early 2018.

]]>http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2017/07/rolls-royces-first-ever-suv-will-arrive-early-next-year.html/feed0more]]>John Lennon’s Trippy Rolls-Royce is Coming to Londonhttp://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2017/07/john-lennon-s-trippy-rolls-royce-phantom-to-be-displayed-in-london.html
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2017/07/john-lennon-s-trippy-rolls-royce-phantom-to-be-displayed-in-london.html#respondThu, 13 Jul 2017 16:49:41 +0000http://www.autoguide.com/?p=514830John Lennon’s Trippy Rolls-Royce is Coming to LondonCelebrating the anniversary of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. more]]> [See image gallery at www.autoguide.com]
John Lennon’s iconic Rolls-Royce Phantom V will return to London later this month to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

The psychedelically-painted Rolls-Royce currently resides in Canada, where it’s displayed at the Royal British Columbia Museum. It will soon travel from Canada to the UK, where it will join ‘The Great Eight Phantoms’ exhibition at Bonhams’ headquarters on New Bond Street in London – an area that Lennon frequented in the 1960s in the car.

Lennon first took delivery of his Phantom in June of 1965. It arrived as a stock, Valentine Black example, but Lennon quickly made it his own, having the rear seat converted into a double bed and getting a TV, telephone and refrigerator installed. He later visited a coachbuilder and requested the wild paint job pictured here, with the finished product debuting just days before Sgt. Pepper’s hit the shelves.

The car was regularly used by Lennon and he took it with him during his move to the U.S. in 1970. Once stateside, Lennon used the car to ferry around other rock stars like The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and The Moody Blues. It was later stored for a number years before billionaire Jim Pattison donated it to the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria, B.C. in 1977.

‘The Great Eight Phantoms’ Rolls-Royce Exhibition will kick off at Bonhams’ flagship showroom in London on July 29th and last through to August 2nd.

]]>http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2017/07/john-lennon-s-trippy-rolls-royce-phantom-to-be-displayed-in-london.html/feed0more]]>Rolls-Royce is Not Interested in Hybrid Carshttp://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2017/07/rolls-royce-not-interested-hybrid-cars.html
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2017/07/rolls-royce-not-interested-hybrid-cars.html#respondTue, 04 Jul 2017 12:54:36 +0000http://www.autoguide.com/?p=509638Rolls-Royce is Not Interested in Hybrid CarsIt will one day do an EV, but only when the technology has been perfected. more]]>Rolls-Royce has ruled out the possibility of making a hybrid model, saying it will only be interested in alternative powertrains when it can bring a fully electric vehicle to market.

Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Otvös said the automaker isn’t interested in hybrid tech as it sees it as a compromise. Rolls-Royce customers would gladly forgo fuel economy in favor of reliability and performance and as such, the automaker will only implement electrification when it can do a real EV.

“The Rolls-Royce brand is not, in a way, a game-changer when it comes to revolutionary technology,” Müller-Otvös told Autocar in a recent interview. “Our customers are doing so for reasons of utmost luxury, so there can be no imperfections.”

“Compromises when it comes to technology, or operating our products, are unacceptable. People are more interested in highly reliably substance than to be a test field for new technology.”

Last year the luxury brand showed off its Vision 100 concept – a fully electric, fully autonomous two-door that was designed to signal the future of luxury mobility. The automaker didn’t divulge much info on the vehicle’s powertrain, only saying it was powered by “a futuristic, powerful, zero-emission drivetrain.”

The fully-autonomous tech previewed by the Vision 100 will likely one day join electric powertrains in Rolls-Royce road cars, but not anytime soon. The automaker isn’t rushing to get the autonomous technology to market for one very good reason: the majority of its owners have hired drivers.

“For our customers it’s not really a requirement because many have chauffeurs. So for that reason, it exists already. I haven’t had a single customer say to me: ‘Torsten, when is the autonomous Rolls-Royce coming?”

]]>http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2017/07/rolls-royce-not-interested-hybrid-cars.html/feed0more]]>Rolls-Royce Paints the Dawn an Extra Dark Shade of Blackhttp://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2017/06/rolls-royce-paints-dawn-extra-dark-shade-black.html
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2017/06/rolls-royce-paints-dawn-extra-dark-shade-black.html#respondWed, 28 Jun 2017 15:24:45 +0000http://www.autoguide.com/?p=507568Rolls-Royce Paints the Dawn an Extra Dark Shade of BlackIntroducing the new 'Black Badge' special edition. more]]> [See image gallery at www.autoguide.com]
Rolls-Royce has shown off the new Dawn Black Badge special edition ahead of its official debut at this weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.

As the name suggests, the Dawn Black Badge is set apart from the ‘regular’ Dawn with a special black exterior color and various black components. The multi-layer exterior paint was fastidiously applied and polished by hand, resulting in “the deepest, darkest and most intense black to ever grace a production car surface.” The convertible’s canvas top is also black and is joined by a black leather rear deck.

Rather than bright chrome, Rolls-Royce elected to use a special black chrome for the exterior trim and its iconic ‘Spirit of Ecstacy’ hood ornament. The ‘Double R’ badge colors have also been flipped from black on silver to silver on black, representing the brand’s sinister Black Badge “alter ego.”

The dark theme continues in the cabin with black leather upholstery and Mandarin orange contrasting accents. Carbon fiber trim also adorns the dash and other surfaces, but this being Rolls-Royce, it’s not the kind of carbon you’d find in something like a BMW M3. It was woven together using threads of aircraft grade aluminum, which was then bonded in carbon fiber and hand-polished to a mirror-like finish.

The Dawn Black Badge is the third such model from the British luxury automaker, arriving after the Ghost Black Badge and Wraith Black Badge. The brand says Black Badge “is an alter-ego for our marque that captivates the disrupters, the innovators and those that accept no limitations.

If you’re a disruptor or innovator (or if you just like the car) Rolls-Royce says theDawn Black Badge is available for immediate order.